John's Journal

Astrology is quite popular in India, and since today is International Astrology Day, the first day of the astrological year, and the beginning of spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere, it seemed like a perfect time to have some fun with a pillow horoscope. Aries For the most bold and audacious of the zodiac signs, our hand painted Tiger pillow, the Madhum. Taurus Our hand woven king euro is a perfect place for serene Taureans to pull up a pillow and meditate. Gemini Geminis have two times the power, and our signature hand painted Two Elephants pillow reflects that pursuit. Cancer Cancerians, a water sign, are thought to be quite intuitive. Grab our outdoor pillow, the Ketki, which is part sea, part sky, and gaze at the million constellations. Leo Leos are royalty. They won't forget it with our hand blocked metallic Diwan in silver and gold. Let your stateliness shine. Virgo Virgo is an earth sign, and the Valli pillow with a rhythmic rustic garden will showcase your down to earth and systematic approach to life. Libra Libras are represented by scale and balance. Our Ruhi hand painted pillow of two elephants will bring any off-balance room back to equilibrium. Scorpio Scorpios, apparently, are quite psychic. There's no more powerful pillow than our Verdin euro with the Nazar symbol, used by the Turks to ward off the evil eye. You will cast the friendliest (and most powerful) of eyes with this pillow by your side. Sagittarius Always the adventurer, the Sagittarius will get happily lost in the forts, elephants and bird of our Tato Teak decorative pillow. Capricorn Capricorns are said to love to socialize, and any of our woven ikat pillows will bring the party to any setting. Aquarius Aquarians are revolutionary in every area of their life, from their hobbies to their fashion. Our Manduka upcycled pillows made from fabric scraps painstakingly stitched together is perfect for this innovative big thinker. Pisces The quintessential water sign, Pisces are forever split between the fantastic and the real. Our hand blocked Sheetal in varying blues reflects the myriad of intricacy this sign beholds. Shop Pillows

Whether it’s the Amarvilas, which gazes at the Taj Mahal from every room, or the rundown palace with a spirited vibe, I love hotels. Here are some of my favorite spots where I have been fortunate to collaborate with their creative owners over the years. Inn Paradiso - Paso Robles, CA Inn Paradiso is this fantastic hotel in Paso Robles. Steve Werndorf, who hits every flea market from the Rose Bowl to Mexico City to Kyoto’s Tenjin-San, owns and runs the joint - and you’ll see all his finds here. Each room is a work of art, a collage of the past, and the present. Be sure to track down Steve he is the real deal and ask him about his antique Rolex collection.   Shutters on the Beach - Santa Monica, CA Interior Designer Michael Smith designed this hotel and asked us for a perky coverlet for the rooms. We had made a patched striped blanket of various block prints that hit the right note for these breezy beach side suites. One of my favorite hotels to stay in LA. The Falls Village Inn - Litchfield, CT Bunny Williams was working with the new owners for the redesign of this hotel and she called me to ask for help with bedding. One never says no to Bunny. It’s also quite fun to be in a local inn near my house in Connecticut, and this place is a landmark, built in 1834. Gitano - Tulum & NYC This cool dude James Gardner came by our showroom and loved the block printed fabrics for his club in Tulum. He would show up with a suitcase and we would stuff it full of block prints. Our lucky pillows are all over his Tulum and NYC spots for you to rest on between dance sets. Round Hill Hotel and Villas - Montego Bay, Jamaica Rachael Robson, a lovely Jamaica-based designer, has been buying our pillows and fabrics for years. She was the designer for this beautiful historic spot near Montego Bay, and did a great job showing how to make a cool white room pop with color. Bambu Indah - Bali My good friend Cynthia Hardy and her husband John Hardy started this hotel in Sayan, near Ubud, as well as the Green School in Abian Semal, about 15 minutes from Ubud, Bali. She was one of the early pioneers in ecotourism. This place is the perfect fit for our block prints, high above the rice paddies. The Crow's Nest - Montauk, NY Hotelier Sean MacPherson came into my showroom one day. He wanted one of a kind antique textiles, and set out to make each room unique. Needless to say, he has an amazing eye for the eclectic. This hotel is an ideal spot for a NY getaway. Topping Rose House - Bridgehampton, NY A full service luxury hotel, this is a magical spot in Bridgehampton incorporates interior design by Champalimaud. I was very excited for my pillows to find such a good home.

Limited Edition Fashion Collaboration  The incredibly talented fashion designer Lan Jaenicke took our prints and created this beautiful collection. Go behind the scenes and learn more about our collaboration below. Tell us about your career path. I knew I would end up as a designer, but went some other directions first to see the world. After all, design comes from experience! After receiving a degree in mathematics in London, I worked in advertising in New York and Hong Kong.  A few years later, I moved to San Francisco, then went back to school for a MFA in fashion, which involved an intense technical training and allowed me to put my visions into form. I’ve always been acutely aware that design and material cannot be separated. The inherent intelligence of cashmere fascinated me - it became the defining material of my brand. I sewed several individual pieces, which organically grew into a collection: Lan Jaenicke was soon launched as a small series of 100% woven cashmere coats and jackets. That was 12 years ago, and all of those original designs are still a part of the signature collection to this day.    When did you know what you wanted to do? My mother was a dancer turned designer, and my father is a writer. Creation is part of my DNA. I've always wanted to make beautiful things and spaces. Actually, growing up in such an artistic world, and being a bit of a rebel, I ran the other way and became a math major. It seemed like a divergence at the time, but studying math has philosophically informed my design process.  How did you meet John? John and I were on a panel together, as both our homes were featured in Travel Home, a book by Caitlin Flemming and Julie Goebel. The book portrays home interiors of designers who are particularly inspired by travel. So we obviously shared a similar spirit and love of exploring. I was soon to open a pop-up boutique in Soho, NY and needed to furnish the empty space quickly. After the panel, John introduced me to Richard Wrightman and his magnificent furniture collection. I was so touched by John's warmth and generosity - both he and Richard became friends of mine immediately. What inspired you to collaborate using John Robshaw Textiles? I'm increasingly focused on sustainability in my design, on using what we already have and seeing it with new eyes. I've always worked with pure cashmere and silk.  I wanted to experiment with linens, cottons, and prints, but only with pure natural materials, no synthetics. Rather than producing more material, saddling the world with more stuff, I sought a source for pre-existing textiles. Of course John is the Prince of Prints, so I immediately thought of him and reappropriated material from his previous collections. I love the craftsmanship and hand-done quality of John Robshaw Textiles, be it for his vibrant block prints, or padded quilts. My collections tend to feature solids, so integrating his patterns has been a thrill to behold. Tell us about this collection. Coincidentally, the last place John and I had both visited was Kyoto. That somehow became a guiding light in creating this collection. A kimono is created from a single swath of fabric - the print is uninterrupted. This struck me not only for its physical beauty, but for its timeless, efficiency of design - nothing is wasted.  This collection embodies a practice of zero-waste, size-free, and some gender-free designs. In my mind, John’s prints integrated so beautifully into this vision - the wrap-skirts, kimono tops and dresses made from his textiles became a perfect fit. My signature black silk grosgrain ribbon delineates his fabrics and gives them structure. I also transformed a quilt of his into a vest and a jacket. Touches of black cashmere add stylistic flair to the overall design, and serve as a signature, as cashmere is the material that defines me. All the pieces in this collection were conceived and created by hand in my atelier in San Francisco. Each piece is one of a kind. Where can  people buy Lan Jaenicke x John Robshaw collection? The collection is available at Atelier Lan Jaenicke, in the Jackson Square historic district of San Francisco. The pieces are one size fits all, but we do offer custom tailoring on site. The collection can also be found on our website: lanjaenicke.com. What’s something not many people know about you? I study martial arts and am captivated by the practice of connecting one's internal energy with external energy. Cultivating your internal balance and embracing change creates strength of character and flexibility, both physical and mental. Any advice for someone looking to do what you’re doing? Just start by doing, without overthinking. The creative process is a journey, a self-discovery. You evolve and grow by actively engaging with your materials.  By persisting, your true vision comes into focus. By pursuing this vision with honesty and humility, you hit the bedrock of authenticity. And of course it’s essential that it be something you love. Shop Lan Jaenicke x John Robshaw

Limited Edition Candles and Reed Diffusers 20 Years of Travel, Friendship & Business John Robshaw and Therese Gibbons met 20 years ago when they were both launching their companies. John was starting John Robshaw Textiles, global bedding and textiles, inspired by India artisans, and Therese was beginning Alora Ambiance, the first reed diffuser in America, brought from Italy. They've come together 20 years later to launch this collection of reed diffusers and candles using Alora's most popular signature scents wrapped in John's notable prints and patterns. We asked Therese Gibbons, the founder of Alora Ambiance, a few questions below. How did you and John meet? Well, 20 years ago magazines still ruled when it came to discovering new products and stores - no Instagram, and people were still scared to enter their credit cards online (imagine!). And, combing through a mag, I happened to see John’s bedding in a “best of” section and loved it, telling my sister that we had to visit the “John Robshaw store” on our next NYC trip. Of course when we cabbed down to his Chelsea showroom we realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t a store, but John happened to be there and we gushed to him how much we loved his textiles and our friendship was born. How did you start Alora? My sis and I started Alora in 2000 after spending two years living together in Italy. We lived in a 150-year old villa overlooking Lake Como and were constantly inspired by the beauty surrounding us. Feeling the pull of home, we committed to starting our own business together, and began with bringing our own version of the “reed” diffuser to America. In 2000, we moved home to our family farm in Southern Minnesota and developed a trio of signature scents and introduced the US to a brand new home fragrance category. By the end of 2000 we’d hand assembled 8000 diffusers and landed Alora in 12 boutiques across the country. How did you know when you made it and that this was going to be a real business? Easy. The minute we got the call telling us Barneys New York added our diffusers to their apothecary, we were off to the races. We’d hand-selected some great retailers across the country but landing a spot in Barneys truly was a  stamp of approval. We’d have buyers call from stores across the country saying “they’d seen our product in Barneys and would like to write an order immediately”.  Eventually Alora was in all the flagship and co-op locations and had great success there for 11 years.  Being on Oprah’s O List that same year was a pretty big deal too, people still call today asking what Oprah’s favorite scent is!   What have been some of the ups and downs of Alora over the years? Gratefully, we’ve had way more ups than downs, with the greatest “up” the fact we’re a 20-year old business that people are still excited about and devoted fans of. Nothing better.  And we’ve had our share of downs. When the first knockoffs appeared it was hard, and vendor issues and the economy have kept us humble. But the biggest struggle remains the daily juggling of managing a business with the demands of motherhood. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t do anything differently, but endlessly proud that, so far, I’ve kept all the balls in the air!   Favorite JRT product? Impossible to pick one. I’ve been filling my home with his beautiful things since that day we met in his showroom! I recently recovered a vintage side chair with his Kukkuta Teak Fabric and it’s gorgeous - like a piece of art. What's your favorite part of running Alora? Hearing from our loyal fans, no doubt. Nothing makes me happier than an Alora devotee telling me they’ve tried the “others” and that Alora is hands down the best – that’s as good as it gets.   Any advice you have for someone who wants to start their own business? Be open and trust your gut.  Ann and I made an agreement from the beginning to always be open to ideas from others: whether it was entertaining a new vendor, a new product idea, changes to our website  – we were humble and recognized that we were not experts in everything. That said, we’ve trusted our instincts since day one – from what to make, with whom to partner and where to invest. Definitely not always easy but it’s been the secret to our success.   Favorite places to go/stay in Italy? If I had to pick one, it’d be Bolzano in Northern Italy at the foothills of the Dolomites. It’s surrounded by small mountain villages and has the most unforgettable views in all of Italy, which is saying something. We’d visit their Christmas Market to take in the amazing alpine decorations and stuff ourselves with the hearty Austrian-influenced food before a weekend skiing. A unique and tourism-proof gem and effortlessly charming.

In celebration of our Fall 2020 collection, here are four of our new Fall patterns, for your bed, computer... and your phone.    Acita Download Phone Wallpaper Download Computer Wallpaper Asaya Download Phone Wallpaper   Download Computer Wallpaper   Senani Download Phone Wallpaper Download Computer Wallpaper   Tharu Download Phone Wallpaper Download Computer Wallpaper   We'd love to see your backgrounds in action, so don't forget to send us your screenshots and tag us on Instagram at @johnrobshaw.   Shop Duvets

I had heard about “Jon from Woodstock” for many moons. He was a mythical figure who would descend on our sample sale and buy whatever crazy things I had made, from fabric covered bicycle rickshaws to huge walls of patched fabric. When we had something out of the ordinary, his name was muttered immediately, and I found out he was building a Shangri La Barn House / Rock & Roll compose-a-record-in-seclusion sanctuary in Woodstock. How did you find out about John Robshaw Textiles? Summertime, 2012, I was living in the Garment District. Walking home I turned onto 29th Street and a long line of good looking, stylish people stretched down the block. I asked someone what was going on, and got in line when told it was a sample sale.  I was headed in my VW Camper to Bonnaroo the next day. I bought a few tarps John had used while print making. They had the perfect vibe. I'm sitting on one of those Robshaw Tarps on the beach writing this right now. Radiohead played a great set, but 8 years later that’s only a memory. What’s your favorite thing about John’s fabrics? His signature fabrics seem to have their own language. John’s fabrics are a fail-safe for me. From curtains to coasters, every property is entirely distinct from the next, but each is full-on Robshaw.   How did you come to work on this project? This house started as a trade. A worker who helped on another house with me wanted a chain link fence for his hunting dogs. He was a metal scrapper and had paper on an old dairy barn, meaning he could take the barn’s contents. The roof on the barn was compromised and the owner didn’t want to pay to fix it or continue to pay insurance for it, so he gave the man the barn, and he traded it to me for the fence. Voilà. The barn frame is hand-hewn hemlock and over 150 years old. We labeled the posts and beams, disassembled the barn and moved it from Gilboa, NY, which is about 30 miles from Woodstock. The barn sat stickered in piles under tarps for 7 years while I looked for the right land to build... and financing.  Have you hit any bumps along the way? It’s been a long road. One of the weirdest things that happened was when we were fixing a ceiling at another house in Zena, Woodstock. We opened the ceiling and discovered the rafters were old tree limbs, and one was completely COVERED with black ants. The rafter was loose, so I thought I could pull the whole thing out to throw outside. I couldn’t free the rafter but ants started to pour down like water; It was an 8 foot ant stream that hit the floor with an expanding aqueous ant puddle. It all swept-up in less than 30 minutes but it was quite a horror.      What would you say you’re most proud of about your home? I’m proud that all 3 Woodstock homes of mine were created from tear-down buildings and reclaimed and discarded materials; I’m proud of the salvaged stained glass and the visual details in the old wood. For instance, I pulled 200 year old barn siding that had been eaten through by insects leaving 1/2 inch holes randomly scattered. It looks like cartoon buckshot. I used it for the paneling in the pool cabana‘s kitchen and backlit the wood; At night, it’s a star-wall.   Any advice for someone looking to do what you’re doing? Consider a kit house.

World Elephant Day is an international holiday dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s elephants, a cause so close to my heart, it’s in my logo! We’re donating 20% of our proceeds today to Wildlife SOS, a nonprofit in India that is committed to the survival of elephants, bears, leopards, and more. I met one of the board members, Reed Nirula, years ago, and am so inspired by her story I wanted to share it with you. Read about Wildlife SOS, check out our animal-inspired collections, and join us in our commitment to saving these amazing creatures. What brought you to this cause? I was drawn to Wildlife SOS because of the intelligent, methodical and dedicated approach the founders have taken to addressing man/animal conflict. In India often there are no obvious, easy solutions to wildlife conflict because the problems have many layers- environmental encroachment, poverty, politics, bureaucracy, and the education limitations of the human population further complicate the challenges of working to save wild animals. Kartick and Geeta realized early on that to help the animals, you have to also help the people, and they committed their lives to that cause and live it everyday. As board members, my husband Arjun and I do what we can to support and amplify the work that Kartick and Geeta and their regionally-based teams are doing in service of India's wildlife.  Reed wearing her Wildlife SOS hat. What's something about elephants most people don't know? When elephants are in the wild, they communicate frequently, touching and calling to each other. Now, once an elephant has been held in captivity for some time, this behavior will stop. They're often isolated which is unnatural to them, and they cease to act the way that they would normally do in a healthy, natural environment. One of the most gratifying sounds you can hear, as a volunteer or supporter, is the sound of newly introduced elephants regaining this communication behavior in our centers. As they make friends with their new acquaintances and form bonds, reconnecting with their own kind, the long sustained silence is broken by friendly, late-night familial trumpeting across the darkened plains. In these moments, we know that they know they are not alone anymore.  How has Covid-19 affected Wildlife SOS? I'm sure it comes as no surprise to learn that Covid -19 has affected Wildlife SOS - is there anything that hasn't been affected!? Firstly, we have implemented procedural precautions to keep our animal population from getting sick. Existing sanitization protocols have been scaled up and our centers have been closed to visitors during this time to protect our vulnerable creatures. Of course, there are additional financial implications for us this year - whether it be a donor base that is themselves facing financial hardship, or just the reality that there are a lot of worthy causes in the world competing for attention from a limited donor pool; nonetheless, elephants, bears and tigers still eat the same amount of food everyday, still require medicine, the children we sponsor still need books and uniforms, and the centers still require full staffing to run properly. Our expenses haven't diminished. In fact, they have increased. Sky-rocketing costs of medical and food supplies, additional expenses in the form of PPE for all of our staff, plus an uptick in calls to our urban centers regarding animals in distress have all conspired to overburden the system. How is it living in India? Any good stories to share? There is never a dull moment living in India; there's so much to discover and explore. My most important initial discovery was my husband Arjun, and in making my life with him, many more adventures have come. Personally, for better or worse, mostly they've been of the entertaining variety, which serves us both well in our "day jobs" in Mumbai's Bollywood industry. By contrast, almost all of our animals at Wildlife SOS have had harrowing origin stories and rescues. Gunshots, car chases, riots, injuries, you name it! I will tell you the specifics when you come and visit us.   

There are some designs that just keep finding themselves in my collections, season after season, year after year. I first introduced the ‘Dasati’ aka ‘Verdin’ years ago. The nazar block design is a symbol, or talisman, used to ward off and protect against an ‘evil eye’ (a curse). I cast a friendly eye using this design in vivid peacock blues in a linen and cotton duvet set, greens, gold, silver & blue options in decorative linen pillows, and my favorite greens in a  fabric to cover your favorite chairs or headboard. I even have a few bags in the pattern if you just want a lucky amulet to carry with you on your journeys. No matter what form the Dasati takes, I promise it will put your worries to sleep, or at least cover them in a lovely print. Design: @digsdesignco, Photo: @gregpremru Design & Photo: @gramercyhome   Design & Photo: @cailinicoastal   Design & Photo: @beckley_design_studio   Design & Photo: @foleyandcox Design & Photo: @amy.textiel    Design & Photo: @ivylaneliving    

We hope you enjoy these coloring pages as much as we enjoyed making them. Don't forget to tag us @johnrobshaw to show us your finished masterpiece, and remember, it's not just for kids!   Download Here     Download Here Download Here Download Here

Want to Zoom from John Robshaw's living room in Connecticut, his workshop office in New York, or just have some fun John Robshaw wallpaper to dress up your video chats? We've got you covered. Our team has created John Robshaw backgrounds to provide some fun changes of scenery all from your laptop. Here's how to set up a Virtual Background on Zoom: Right-click (or Control + click on Mac) any images you like Choose "Save As" Open Zoom Click the Settings icon in the top right-hand corner Select "Virtual Background" and add the image you like Here's the full tutorial from Zoom We'd love to see your backgrounds in action, so don't forget to send us your screenshots and tag us on Instagram at @johnrobshaw.   Interiors John's KitchenDownload Image John's Office Download Image John's Living Room Download Image Exteriors John's Gazebo Download Image John's Patio Download Image John's Yard Download Image Wallpaper Gaja Graphite Wallpaper Download Image Kulina Moss Wallpaper Download Image Suka Moss Wallpaper Download Image Ratana Gray Wallpaper Download Image Ratana Lavender Wallpaper Download Image Ratana Indigo Wallpaper Download Image  

Ikats, Ikats, Ikats My first visit to Uzbekistan was ten years ago, arranged by Raisa, a local travel agent who helped Aid to Artisans set up a network of weavers in the Fergana valley.  It’s a great story: Aid to Artisans gave these talented weavers small grants of $500-1000. The money enabled them to attend textile shows in Santa Fe, where they sold everything they’d made! Ten years later, I’m back to see these weavers again, some of whom now have boutique hotels, restaurants or thriving textile businesses. How Ikats are Made Margilan is the place for hand-made Fergana valley ikats. With the help of some local artisans, I got to witness all the various stages in their production. First the silk thread is made, then washed, then warped. A pattern is drawn on the silk, bound, then dyed. Next comes the shafting, then the weaving, finishing and calendaring! I was exhausted just watching all of the steps needed to produce this magical fabric. Basically, the town of Margilan functions as a collective of sorts. One workshop sets up the looms, weaves the silks, then dip dyes the tied silk threads. Another workshop just calendars the fabrics, another one sews finished goods. All of the workshops rely on each other; no one workshop could effectively manage all of the steps needed to produce these textiles. My Travel Tips When you visit Margilan, don’t miss the Kunstepa bazaar. Vendors sell cotton ikats by the meter, the prices are quite reasonable and the range of designs, from traditional to modern, is breathtaking. The men’s quilted robes and sashes are remarkable. For antique textiles, I found a lot more in Bukhara and Samarkand which I am not mentioning here but of course you must visit some of the largest cities on the famed silk route. Have fun and bring an extra suitcase or two.   “Verboseness is a load, even for a donkey” Uzbek proverb Photos by Rachel Robshaw

Q&A with Sara Bengur & John Robshaw, the duo that teamed up together to create a colorful and global tea-room-inspired masterpiece at the 2019 Hampton Designer Showhouse. It’s a jungle in here!   How did you get into each of your fields? SB: I actually majored in Economics in college and worked in finance for a couple of years both in London and New York.  I remember an interior design firm next to my office in London, and how I peered into their windows every day when I walked by. I decided then interior design is what I really wanted to do.  After transitioning fields by managing an architecture firm in Soho, I went back to school and studied interior design at Parsons.  The last person I worked for before going off on my own was Stephen Sills, with whom I learned the skills needed to create a custom interior, and how to combine textiles and color. JR: Travel kick-started my company many years ago when I was a sequin mule, picking up sequins in Paris, dropping them in Mumbai and waiting for completed dresses to smuggle out back to NYC.   How would you describe your design style? SB: My personal design style is quite eclectic.  I love to include objects and textiles I have purchased during my travels.  My upbringing in Istanbul and in Europe, inspired my love of color and layering with unusual patterns, while always keeping it fresh and updated so its never a cliché.  When I design for a client I spend a lot of time getting to know their likes and dislikes, before making suggestions.  I feel that the design of a home should reflect the personality and lifestyle of the person living in it, so I embark on a creative journey with each client to manifest this.  I think one of the keys to interior design is combining periods, styles and patterns in an unexpected way — that is what gives an interior lasting value.   JR:  The exoticism of bringing my love of travel, color, and texture all together.   Can you tell us about your inspiration for your room in the Hampton Designer Show House? SB: As John and I were throwing around ideas for the showhouse, we started discussing the walls as a starting point.  We both zeroed in on a hand painted pillow with a jungle scene he carries.  I had just come back from the furniture fair in Milan and was inspired by the grand gestures in their installations, so I suggested we take his design and blow it up to life size to make a whimsical statement!  JR: The room was inspired by a Syrian tea room- I went to Damascus before the war and hung out for days in murky tea rooms but wanted to brighten it up here.  It also started with a hand painted mural of some Indian folk art and then of course we kept adding old pals, like Harry Allen, who is an amazing industrial designer, who also happened to be my roommate at Pratt.  And Alexander Gorlizki, who I met at a run down palace hotel in Jaipur years ago as he started working with a Indian miniature painter, installed an art installation in the closet.  Dana of DBO Home is my pal from Connecticut who makes hand made porcelain so we made these Chinese-landscape-painting-inspired lamps with vintage turban shades.     How did you begin this project?  Can you walk us through the various phases of your design journey?  SB: John and I went to visit our front bedroom at the showhouse to brainstorm and come up with ideas.  We agreed that rather than doing a traditional bedroom it would be more fun to design an exotic sitting room with low banquettes- and that’s how the process started...Once we decided on the walls which Twenty2 Wallpaper was skillfully making for us, we started selecting inspirations for color and the textiles from fabrics and pillows in his showroom.  The seat and back cushions are our custom design and were made for us in India.  John pulled all his strings to get them done in time!  We then supplemented the seating with John’s collection of new and antique pillows.  Our next step was to call on all our designer friends to complete the room, Harry Allen for lighting, Tucker Robbins and Ercole Home for tables and accessories, Veronique Gambier for the oil painting, DBO home for the lamps and the amazing Alexander Gorlizki for our art installation in the closet.     What was the biggest challenge in designing this room? SB: We were not allowed to paint the trim in the room and this was the biggest challenge for me.  When having the wall mural made, we needed to make the necessary accommodations to create the white background of the paper so the white trim of the room looked intentional. JR: There were slanted ceilings in the room which were painted orange to give the room continuity.     Was there anything you had opposing views on while designing the room?  How did you reach a resolution?  SB: At the beginning, John really wanted to create a bedroom since he designs bedding!  But I felt it would be so much more interesting and unexpected if we used his fabrics in a way that many people were not accustomed to seeing.  After a few matcha lattes he eventually came around and we started on our jungle journey.  JR: I think more is just right and I love adding and discovering connections, and Sara is just the right amount of tough to cut things out and keep me in line.    

Prints Charming It may seem confusing to put together prints in your apartment/ home airstream, but I say take it easy and have fun with it.  The brilliance of textiles verses furniture is you can always un-stuff those pillows and fold them up and pull them out later.  That’s hard to do with a sofa. Play with Scale Coming out of art school I learned that scale could really make or break a work of art, and I am constantly looking at scale with prints.  Mixing scales, from quilt to duvet to pillows creates some exciting dialogue between the elements.  I suggest trying some super massive prints with some small ditsy prints and see how you feel about the combinations. I purposely mix scales across our line to create more interesting combinations.   There is no set rule on this, as far as I am concerned. Color Block One easy way to make a room or bed work is to color block in a loose manner. The indigos can all be different shades, and you can even mix in some vintage indigoes to spice it up. On the flip side, be daring- mix indigo with coral to see how they dance with each other.   Sometimes it will feel right or wrong and it’s up to your eye to decide. Be Bold I am not very good at keeping it simple; I love the way patterns dance around a room and converse with each other.  To me, more prints is more.  I think a grey world is for the birds! Make it Seasonal I have a good friend with an impeccable eye and she is always changing out her wardrobe and her home with the seasons, which is an interesting way to look at it. Your moods shift as the sun shifts and colors look different in the fall or winter than they do in the spring.  You can adjust your bedding, your throws, or even your pillows on your sofa to reflect the season’s colors as you start to notice in the trees or the skies changing hues.

Step 1: Solid Foundation Start with a fitted sheet. Make sure to tuck it tightly to avoid any creases or wrinkles A crisp flat sheet comes next - lay it down so it's evenly draped on all sides and tuck it under the mattress. Fold the extra material at the bottom on a diagonal toward each side of the bed. Leave a few inches untucked at the top to fold back over your quilt & duvet. Step 2: Lovely Layers Next comes your quilt, include this layer for extra warmth and pizazz.  Lay it down and fold your flat sheet back along with the top of the quilt, about a quarter of the way down the bed. Then layer your duvet on top of your quilt, folding this back too.  The complementing patterns and colors will give your bed extra character,  not to mention more warmth and coziness from the double layer. Step 3: Pillow Power King Euros make the perfect pair to your headboard, due to their larger-than-life size.  Start with one or two of those.  Next throw in a euro or two to diversify the pillow shape and size.  don’t be  afraid to get creative with mixing & matching colors and patterns.  Be bold!  To complete the look and match back to your duvet, top off with shams.  This is meant to be an example as there are endless ways to arrange your decorative pillows - it all comes down to personal preference! Step 4: Throw it All Together The final step is to add on your throw.  Not just for decorative purposes, you'll want to grab this extra layer for those chilly winter nights, or when the AC is pumped up in the summer!  Drape the throw over the edge at the foot of the bed for some added curb appeal.